Short-term benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally. It actually causes physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter helps you take in oxygen-rich air, which stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles. Laughter also increases feel-good chemicals called endorphins that your brain releases.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response. It also can raise and then lower your heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, you feel good and more relaxed.
• Soothe tension. Laughter also can stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation. Both can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.